International Education Week (IEW), which runs from Nov. 14-20, is a celebration of the benefits of international education and global exchange. Events are offered throughout campus to engage students, faculty, staff, and even alumni with this mission. This year, one of the IEW signature events includes a day-long engagement with a nationally-known distinguished scholar and Miami alumnus, thanks to support from the Miami Honors College.

The IEW keynote speaker will be the 2021-22 Faber Scholar-in-Residence, Amer F. Ahmed (‘00). Born and raised in Ohio to Indian Muslim immigrants, Ahmed draws on lived experience, deep theoretical analysis, and practical application to guide institutions, leadership, and workplaces on a path to transformative change. In short, he seeks to bridge the "silos" between DEI work and global work in higher education.

“DEI work is relevant across all areas of higher education, and international education is no exception,” said Karla Guinigundo, director of global partnerships and chair of the International Education Week committee. “We are particularly fortunate to have Dr. Ahmed joining us, who is not only an expert in DEI as it intersects with international education, but is someone whose critical reflection on his experience as a student at Miami is one we can learn from.”

Ahmed is the founder and CEO of AFA Diversity Consulting, LLC, a consulting practice that supports organizational efforts around leadership, professional development, assessment, and strategic change. In addition to his consulting work, he currently serves as Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Vermont.

He was also the very first keynote speaker at IEW six years ago, and he is eager to return to campus and speak with the Miami community again.

The Honors College Faber Scholar-in-Residence

According to Dr. Zeb Baker, director of the Honors College, their mission to support DEI initiatives and expand their involvement in global programming led to the choice of Ahmed as the Faber Scholar-in-Residence. "Amer Ahmed is precisely the sort of thinker and activist we like to bring to campus. Not only will he work with students, faculty, and staff through the IEW week activities, but he can also engage with our honors students during his visit," he said.

Faber Scholars are asked to give a lecture to the entire university community; to visit an Honors course that is relevant to their field of study and/or expertise; and to attend a luncheon or symposium with honors students to discuss the major issues and themes of their work and research and how it intersects with our students' interests.